PH might exempt EVs from coding, prioritize them during registration

The Philippines has made great strides towards cleaning up its act when it comes to transportation. There's the Department of Transportation's (DOTR) PUV Modernization Program, which is still ongoing, as well as tax exemptions on electric car imports, just to name some of the progress—real progress—made over the past few years.

Still, more can always be done, right?

Senate Committee on Energy chair Senator Win Gatchalian, while acknowledging the Department of Energy's (DOE) promotion of electric vehicles (EV), has pointed out that the agency has done little in terms of policy to support the industry's actual growth.

With that in mind, the Senator is urging the DOE—together with the DOTr, Land Transportation Office (LTO), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)—to create a roadmap for EV adoption in the country.

"Moving forward, we want to see research. Of course, this will not be without opposition. There will be opposition, let's expect that. But we have to clearly explain the advantages of promoting e-vehicles. I expect the DOE—which is a much larger organization—should have that data. Hindi naman ho tayopuwede mag-promote nang wala ho tayongbasis," Gatchalian said during a recent committee hearing on Senate Bill No. 2137 or the Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations Act.

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"Iyong advantages ng [e-vehicles], it should be quantifiable, or else, it's very difficult to convince people that this is actually beneficial," he told the DOE.

Thankfully, there's plenty of incentive for the average motorist within Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations Act to seriously consider a shift to EVs.

Besides requiring private and public establishments—including gas stations—to provide dedicated parking slots with charging stations, the bill also seeks to expand other non-fiscal incentives. This includes possible exempting EVs from number coding, as well as prioritizing EVs during the registration process.

Would you trade in your gasoline or diesel car if it means being exempted from number coding? Let us know in the comments.